Residents across parts of north-west England experienced a sudden jolt late on Wednesday night as a noticeable earthquake struck just off the Lancashire coast.
Tremor Felt Across the Region
The British Geological Survey (BGS) confirmed an earthquake with a magnitude of 3.3 occurred shortly after 11.23pm. The epicentre was located just off the coast of Silverdale, Lancashire, at a shallow depth of approximately 1.86 miles.
The tremor was felt across a wide area, including communities in Lancashire and the southern Lake District. Towns such as Kendal and Ulverston, within a 12-mile radius of the epicentre, reported shaking. Residents described the sensation to the BGS as akin to an "underground explosion," with one stating it was "so powerful it shook the whole house."
Public Response and Geological Context
The event prompted a significant public response. The Volcano Discovery website, which collates earthquake reports from the public, received more than 1,100 submissions from individuals in the area at the time. Most accounts described the shaking as "light" or "weak."
While startling for those who felt it, earthquakes of this scale are a relatively common geological occurrence in the UK. The BGS detects between 200 and 300 earthquakes across the nation annually. However, only a fraction—typically 20 to 30—are strong enough to be felt by the public. The vast majority are recorded only by sensitive instruments and cause no damage.
Recent Seismic Activity in the UK
This is the most significant tremor felt in England since a similar event in Scotland last autumn. The most recent UK earthquake exceeding magnitude 3.3 was recorded on 20 October in parts of Perth and Kinross. That quake, which struck at 7.25am with its epicentre near Pubil in the Glen Lyon region, was also felt by residents.
The event off the Lancashire coast serves as a reminder of the UK's active, though generally mild, seismic background. No damage or injuries have been reported following Wednesday night's tremor.
